AIA to meet with school officials over forfeited football game

by Richard Obert - Sept. 11, 2012 07:43 PMazcentral sports

The Arizona Interscholastic Association will meet with Scottsdale Saguaro and Tempe today in an attempt to reach a resolution in the aftermath of Friday's football game that ended before halftime with Tempe forfeiting.

Chuck Schmidt, AIA associate executive director, said the executive board has received reports from both schools and from the referees working the game, along with game film. It met in executive session Tuesday.

This is an ongoing investigation, Schmidt said, with Wednesday's meeting a chance for the two schools to engage in dialogue and to "get clarity."

Tempe reported to the AIA, raising concerns over players' safety, on Friday night when it decided to forfeit the game with Saguaro. Tempe trailed 31-0 with 1:33 remaining in the first half. Both teams had been sent to the locker room by the referees.

Four Tempe players were injured, two taken by ambulance to a hospital.

The following day, Tempe Principal Mark Yslas released a letter to the Tempe High community, criticizing Saguaro's play and supporting the school's decision to forfeit because of concerns over the players' safety. He claimed Saguaro was penalized 12 times "for unfair play" and that three of the Tempe players sustained injuries due to "illegal contact."

Schmidt said Saturday that Tempe may have violated a bylaw by not completing the game.

Tempe coach Brian Walker said Tuesday that he had taken himself "out of the loop" on the Saguaro matter and was trying to get his team to move on and be ready for Scottsdale Coronado on Friday.

It is uncertain how soon the four injured players, including sophomore quarterback Emanuel Gant, will be back to play.

Saguaro coach Jason Mohns, who did not return a message Tuesday, said Saturday that after reviewing the film, his team committed six personal fouls but felt like three of them were "not correctly called." He said he submitted a copy of the end zone and sideline film to his athletic director.

"After reviewing the film, we did not feel like there was any kind of intent to injure from our players," Mohns wrote in an e-mail Saturday.

Clif McKenzie, Scottsdale Unified School District athletic director, said in an e-mail Tuesday that the Scottsdale district has been working jointly with the Tempe district and the AIA to "address the issues and allow both schools to move forward."

Yslas did not return a message from azcentral sports on Tuesday.

Tempe district spokeswoman Linda Littell wrote in an e-mail that respective district superintendents "have been in communication and will cooperate with the AIA in this investigation."